Office of the Secretary

For Immediate Release: June 26, 2001

Contact: John Wright 202-208-6416

Secretary Norton Announces Plan to Acquire Environmentally Sensitive
Lands Under the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act

$4.8 Million Earmarked for Development of Multi-Species
Habitat Conservation Plan for Clark County

Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton today announced the list of environmentally sensitive lands in Nevada that will be acquired with funds from land sales conducted under the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998. The Interior Secretary made the announcement during a signing ceremony at the Interior Department in Washington, D.C.

As Secretary Norton signed the Decision Document, she said, "Today is an exciting day for the citizens of Nevada. "My action today will benefit the children's State Permanent School Trust Fund, Southern Nevada Water Authority, and the Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan for Clark County."

The Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act allows the Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to sell land identified for disposal in the Las Vegas Valley, and to use the proceeds to acquire land and pay for projects that benefit the people of Nevada. By signing the Decision Document it allows the Interior Department to spend about $27 million on the acquisition of environmentally sensitive lands, $5.25 million for capital improvement projects, $8 million for parks, trails and natural areas, and $4.6 million for continuing development of a Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan in Clark County.

These expenditures are the second category authorized under the Act. The first round was announced last July. Since the law was enacted, BLM has held four competitive land auctions in Las Vegas and one on the internet. The May 2001 auction resulted in $58.4 million in sales, with the 1,905 North Las Vegas parcels going for $47.2 million.

Eighty-five percent of the land sale proceeds are deposited into a special interest-bearing account which funds acquisitions of environmentally sensitive land in Nevada; capital expenditures for the federal recreation areas in Clark County; parks, trails and natural areas throughout the county; and development of the Clark County Multi-Species Habitat Management Plan.

Ten percent of the land sale proceeds go to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, and five percent to the State Permanent School Trust Fund. The school fund will receive almost $3 million from the July sale. When added to funds received from previous sales, the total amount to Nevada's school children from the act is approximately $9 million.

Note to Editors: The Decision Document and list of properties and projects are attached.

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